Jonathan’s Coast Guard Deception

When the editor In chief, Munir Dan-ali inquired at an editorial board meeting whether any of us had the privilege of reading through a report purported to be from Army Intelligence posted on the site of Sahara reporters where the current Chief Security Officer of President Goodluck Jonathan, General Andrew Azazi was implicated, very few […]

When the editor In chief, Munir Dan-ali inquired at an editorial board meeting whether any of us had the privilege of reading through a report purported to be from Army Intelligence posted on the site of Sahara reporters where the current Chief Security Officer of President Goodluck Jonathan, General Andrew Azazi was implicated, very few of us on the board had actually seen or read the report then.
But I can remember the controversies that brew some few years ago when it was reported that the Niger Delta youth were getting their arms from the nation’s military consignment and evidences were provided to prove that allegation, but typical of Nigeria and the government in place, the matter was rested without making public who was responsible or even what really happened. What we saw was the retirement of some top military officers but without any blame apportioned to any specific group, category or individual.
As luck will have it, the politics in Nigeria since 1999 was centrally placed on the need to pacify the thugs from the Niger Delta area. Many reasons are responsible for this development. One is that true as it is, the bulk of the resources that the nation makes are derived from the oil exploration done in the area. It is also true that the level of theft at both federal and local levels is so colossal that the governments both in Abuja and in the Niger Delta area are unable to put reasonable infrastructure in place to support good life just as is the case in the rest of Nigeria.
The failure of the federal state to be responsive by implication equally encourages the theft by the state authorities in the area and thus the easy way out was to pay more premium on polemics and given the civil rule era in place, a resurgence of violent groups of young people who benefit immensely from violence and illegal trade in oil, crisis in the Niger Delta area got worsened.
With the amnesty proclamation by the late President Yar’adua, some measure of respite were recorded in the area but as usual, there has been a lingering problem between the amnesty pledges and fulfillments of these promises. Nigerians can understand that those charged with the responsibility of implementing the amnesty program themselves require the funds that would have been used to rehabilitate the ex militants.
The result is therefore the resurgence of violence especially in the last one week and the return of military operation in the region. This brings us to the main issue of discourse today, the creation of coastal guards to be manned by the ex militants. Now, the first question to ask is, can Nigeria safely assume that there are ex militants in view of the renewed violence and attacks in the Niger Delta area?
The answer is definitely no. And if that is the answer, then, one can say with all precision that the decision to start a coast guard authority in no matter what form and to be manned specifically by those who are called ex militants is latent manifestation of the incapacity of the president to provide the required leadership that will see the nation out of its woods.
It is clear that the militants are still active and the amnesty proclamation quashed by these recent attacks going on in the area. Even if the militants have truly downed their arms, it is unconstitutional and illegal to start a national military or paramilitary organization composed of people from only one section of the federation in the name of finding jobs for the recalcitrant boys.
This recklessness that is about to happen must be stopped by all Nigerians. It is wrong, dubious and criminal to think of the contraption of any such guards in isolation of the rest of the country. What Goodluck Jonathan wants to do is to simply provide the license or rather legitimize the criminal activities of his kinsmen against Nigeria and its people.
It is very clear and we can see how bereft of ideas this president is. After having enjoyed the benevolence of a failed system and rose to the top through sheer patronage, the President is today doing everything possible to perpetuate instability through iniquity in a plural system where peace and progress have become so dear and expensive.
I think the real reason behind the coast guards deception is to create legitimacy for the escalation of hostilities and possible cessation by the oil rich area. What President Jonathan is trying to do is unimaginable in the theory and practice of statecraft. It clearly exposes the weak frame of mind and insincerity of the political leadership in resolving endemic national impasse. Let all those who can hear, hear that this Coast Guards strategy is a ploy that is lacking in focus and sincerity.
If truly there is the need to establish any such agency, it must be opened to all Nigerians with no preferential treatment whatsoever in the recruitment of officers and men of the Guards. In any case, there is no need for it because the Nigerian Navy is capable of discharging its constitutionally-assigned responsibilities. There is no proof yet to signify that the Navy is incapable so why just create an institution that will compound the problems on ground rather than resolve them?
This Coast Guard project is not just a suspect but an outright disaster about to happen which must be averted by all sensible citizens. Government should look another way and find jobs for the so-called ex-militants and stop toying with sensitive issues of national security. I wonder what those in the executive arm are doing allowing their principal to moot such a stillborn idea.
I am optimistic that even if the President insists on having his way, the matter will be killed on arrival at the National Assembly if truly it is an assembly of the Nigerian people which I do know it is. There is no need for any Coast Guard formation in Nigeria. The Navy should be allowed to do its job please.
The project is ill conceived and not in the best interests of peace and security of the country. A lot of us will hold such an insensitive ploy suspect and clearly we can see that some Nigerians are unable to live above petty pseudo sentiments, which is a cardinal requirement in moving any federal system forward.
Again and for the records. The government must immediately shelve that unpopular and bias idea of starting a coastal guard agency or commission just to appease the youths of the Niger Delta at the detriment of the rest of Nigeria and its fragile peace.